6. Exploring Greece on the Cheap

A sovereign-debt crisis nets tourists a tax break

You'd never know there was a debt crisis in Greece. Photo: Wolfgang Staudt/flickr

Grasping for a way to boost tourism and pay off mounting debts, the Greek government reduced sales tax in 2011 from 11.5 to 6.45 percent, created a tax-free airport landing zone, and lifted taxes for cruises. The result? Tourists caught a 10 percent discount on travel in Greece, and the news caught like wildfire. As of August, more than 16.5 million tourists had visited, making 2011 the country’s second-busiest tourism year on record.